Mufti Banking on PM Modi to Follow Vajpayee-Like Policy on Kashmir

Mehbooba Mufti has been under mounting attack in the face of fresh spurt of violence in Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. (Photo: ANI)

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Monday and pressed for dialogue.

Mehbooba, who is under mounting attack in the face of fresh spurt of violence in Kashmir, briefed Modi on the prevailing situation in the state and the way forward.

She told the Prime Minister that the Centre should seriously think about the welfare of the state. "There is no option but to talk," Mehbooba said.

After the meeting, Mufti addressed the media and said that he discussed less voting percentage in recent elections and security situation in J&K.

“There should be talk with our own people. The atmosphere has to be made conducive so that governance and dialogue can be taken place,” Mufti said. “Modi ji has repeatedly said that he would follow Vajpayee ji’s footsteps, whose policy is of reconciliation, not confrontation,” she added.

Also Read: How the Ill-Fated PDP-BJP Alliance Entertains Kashmiris

"We held discussions on various issues... the agenda of alliance between the PDP-BJP," Mehbooba told reporters

She also discussed the Indus Waters treaty with the PM.

She also met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and said that the government will look into the changing situation in Valley and dialogue will be initiated in the next two months.

Talks Must Yield Results: Farooq Abdullah

After Mufti’s meeting with PM Modi, her political opponent, Farooq Abdullah supported her views of initiating a dialogue. However, he said that he wished to see some results on the ground. He expected the BJP to initiate talks faster and he was willing to be the mediator.

BJP leader and in-charge of J&K issues, Ram Madhav said that there has been no rift in the BJP-PDP alliance.

“Main concern is to bring normalcy in Kashmir within 1-2 months, have extended all support to the state,” he said.

Congress leader. GN Azad, however, didn’t agree with the claims made by the BJP. “There won't be peace in J&K till there is BJP-PDP government. Governor's rule is never a solution, they should change their way,” he said.

Also Read: Anger Against PDP-BJP Explains Farooq Abdullah’s Bypoll Victory

Rajnath Reviews Kashmir Situation With Top Security Brass

The top security brass of the country on Monday reviewed the situation in Jammu and Kashmir amid continued unrest in the Kashmir Valley.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh was given a detailed presentation on the latest ground situation in the state in the wake of violence since the 9 April bypoll to the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency, official sources said.

They discussed the steps taken to bring back normalcy in the Valley, which has witnessed many protests and stone- pelting incidents in the recent past.

Singh discussed increased infiltration bids from across the border with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and the top officials of the Home ministry, the paramilitary forces and the chiefs of the intelligence agencies.

Strained PDP-BJP Relations

A BJP minister, Chander Prakash Ganga, recently advocated strong action, saying "traitors and stone-pelters should be treated with bullets".

This comment drew the ire of the PDP, which said there was a "conspiracy" to keep trouble brewing in the Valley.

“Such detestable remarks not only reflect the nauseous mentality of some extremist politicians in the state, but also expose the larger design of certain elements to provoke fresh trouble in Kashmir so that Kashmiris are pushed into perpetual educational and economic dis-empowerment,” senior PDP leader Peerzada Mansoor had said in a statement later.

Against the backdrop of the strains, BJP's pointsman for Jammu and Kashmir Ram Madhav on Friday last held a meeting with senior PDP leader Haseeb Drabu in Jammu.

Also Read: PDP-BJP Meet on Kashmir Situation Before Amit Shah’s Jammu Visit

Madhav then met Ganga, who later expressed regret for his controversial comment.

(With inputs from PTI.)